Agar set to earn millions following dream Ashes debut

Melbourne: Teenaged Australian star Ashton Agar is a `marketer`s dream` and is set to earn millions with sponsors knocking on his door following his dream Ashes and Test debut score of 98 in the second day of the Trent Bridge Test, according to the Australian media.

The 19-year-old debutant is ideal for prospective sponsors as he is build up of an attractive package-an aggressive batsman, an orthodox spinner and a good fielder. Stating that Agar is a marketer`s dream as he is also good looking, articulate, intelligent, has an exotic heritage and cricketing promise, the report said that the player has the potential to follow Australian players like Glenn Maxwell into the Indian Premier League, where they have scored contracts in the region of one million dollars each. Although his manager Jason Bakker said that Agar would not be rushing to sign on any contract, the report said that there is little doubt that the youngster, with his managing to crack the highest score by a No.11 batsman in cricket history, along with a good dose of daring and charm, has thrust himself in the realm of modern cricket`s super rich. However, Bakker was more interested in Agar developing his game and improving himself as a Test cricketer as he still has to play five Test matches in England and take wickets, adding it is up to the organizers of the IPL or the Sri Lankan Premier League to think that Agar`s Sri Lankan heritage is a bonus and may boost his popularity. However, Bakker admitted that it would be hard to stop the sponsors from crowding all over Agar, saying that Agar`s performance is the `stuff of fantasy` and believed that it can unify ranks and bring back fans to cricket, although he added that unless his client backed up his performance, those calls would soon fade. However, Dominic Thornley, who manages Brett Lee, Pat Cummins and Tim Cahill, among others, disagreed with Bakker, saying that with that one innings, Agar had put in place a marketing base for years to come like Cummins did in his debut, in which he took six wickets and made a name for himself. Thornley further said that even a year later, people would still be talking about Agar`s first game, regardless of what happens now, adding that down the track there will be plenty of sportsmen`s nights and corporate lunches where he can cash in. Australia`s highest-earning cricketer is Captain Michael Clarke, who was estimated to have pocketed 5.5 million dollars in 2012 by BRW, the report added. ANI